CBD treats have become a trendy product to get for your pets, but you may not know much about it. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural chemical compound that is extracted from hemp. It is nontoxic to pets, legal to purchase and use for humans and animals, and it has the potential to offer a few benefits for their health and well-being.
While there has yet to be any large-scale research to fully understand how CBD works on dogs and cats, there has been enough studies on animals in general and smaller studies on dogs to have a good idea. Here are three reasons why you may want to give your dog or cat CBD for pets.
1. It Relieves Anxiety
Some pets are more prone to anxiety, whether it’s due to strangers in the home, thunder storms, fireworks, trips to the vet, or visiting the groomer. There are also animals that have chronic anxiety, just like humans. While there are no clinical studies testing how much CBD can reduce anxiety in animals, a survey of vets that have tried it experimentally with their clients’ dogs found that 65% found it was at least somewhat helpful.
Whether their anxiety is more severe or situational, you can give CBD treats to help reduce their stress and calm them down a bit. For situational stress, it helps to give them a treat about an hour before you know they’ll be exposed to their source of anxiety.
2. It Reduces Pain
If your pet is injured, recovering from surgery, or just older and experiencing issues like joint pain, CBD can help relieve the pain to improve their happiness and comfort. It can also help restore some mobility, not just from reducing the pain they’re experiencing but also by reducing inflammation as well.
A small study by Cornell University using 16 dogs with osteoarthritis found that CBD reduced pain and improved their level of activity when given CBD twice a day. You may not need to give your dog a dose that frequently unless they have more serious pain, and you should always consult with your vet first to determine the proper dose.
3. It Stimulates Their Appetite
Another common issue for pets that can arise is them losing their appetite. This can come from a regular illness, anxiety, recovery from surgery, medication they need to be on, or simple aging. They could also just have nausea while they are riding in the car, if they get motion sickness.
Whether it’s just nausea or a loss of appetite, CBD has been found to help in this area as well. It may be more difficult to give a sick pet treats when they already won’t eat, so you can try something like dipping it in chicken stock or some kind of fat to make it more appetizing.
While CBD is safe and nontoxic for pets, make sure you understand how much of a dose is in a treat, as the amount can vary for different weight-groups. Stay within the recommended dose limits for your pet, and don’t give them to them for no reason or for training. Giving them several times the normal dose for their weight can make them feel sick.